Dara Shukoh was a visionary thinker, a talented poet, a prolific writer, a theologian, a calligraphist and a warm-hearted family man, the eldest son and chosen successor of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan held a bundle of virtues like none other but could not breach the war of succession that had come to symbolize the ruling dynasty. Yet, the tragedy of this multifaceted visionary continues in our own times too.
Dara is a classic Shakespearean tragedy hero, who fits into Aristotle’s idea of catharsis through tragedy. Dara was a great unifier of religions and essayed his brand of religious liberalism at a time when orthodox Sunni faith was on its ascendancy. In retelling of a somewhat decisive period in medieval history, literary historian Amit Ranjan presents Dara as a scholar-philosopher who may not have been any match to his three brothers, but his scholarly erudition was to become a legend in history. Dara’s translation of the Upanishads into Persian is one among his works that continues to engage a generation of Indologists.
Packed with a nuanced portrait of the prince, Dara Shukoh is a sensitive and touching re-examination of the life and times of the poet-prince to whom history remained kind in parts. While he did not live to attain the imperial status, Shahjahan had ordained for him, his legacy resonates far and wide even after little over four centuries. That the prince pursued the path of religious tolerance in the volatile times of power politics is enough to remind us not to lose out to the forces who are condemned to repeat history. It seems there is more to Dara Shikoh then there ever was, relevance of his vision and philosophy has persisted over time.
Ranjan claims that the question that haunted Aurangzeb was: will Dara dead turn out more powerful than Dara alive? The popularity of the slain prince was too great to comprehend, leaving him alive was too costly a proposition. Aurangzeb not only had a strange grudge against Dara but also against those who supported his spiritual disposition. His pathological, visceral hatred for Dara was recorded in history because Aurangzeb never wanted a martyr out of his elder brother. To keep his throne intact, he eliminated his father, his brothers, and his sisters. And he didn’t even spare Sufi-poet daughter Zeb-un-Nissa, who had to rot for twenty years in prison.
Historians have gone at length detailing dynastic wars. Dara’s head had rolled in the pursuit of power, but the succession war was far from over. Head-hunting had become a private obsession with Aurangzeb, and many heads were to roll who gave company to the slain prince. But why did he persist tooth-and-nail to wipe Dara’s legacy remains a mute question? It seems the threat perception was overwhelming, and so were deception and betrayal as its governing tools. It is another matter that this weakened the empire.
Dara Shukoh is a brilliant exposition of the bygone era, which presents the enigmatic prince as a mystic with ecstatic assertion about his spiritual vision. Written with poetic empathy, it brings to light the philosophical insights of the person who remained in pursuit of truth all his life. If he is the person who could have changed the course of our history, then it will be prudent to preserve his wide ranging works as a historical heritage. Amit Ranjan’s meticulously researched and pictorial biography of the slain prince presents him as a syncretic scholar of extraordinary genius.
Dara was ahead of times in expressing love, compassion and tolerance towards other faiths. In discussions with the learned men of all faiths, Dara had concluded that apart from the manner of exposition of the doctrines there was no difference between Islam and Hinduism. Dara’s abiding interest in Gnosticism and monotheism continues to endear till this day. However, for the crown prince the search for spiritual truth was for his personal redemption.
by Amit Ranjan
Penguin Random House, New Delhi
Extent: 277, Price: Rs, 799.
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